Device for coupling rods



May 17, 1960 E. E. MILLER ET AL DEVICE FOR COUPLING RODS ADOLPH c. @EH/w mm @mi L Filed Marh 12, 1958 Nm m @m @on N 3 ATTOPNE s Unite 'This invention relates in generalto a'zdeviceforcou- ',pling lthe vadjacent ends of apair iof substantiallyl coaxial "rods and, more particularly, to `a'type of suchjdevice especially adapted to yeffect `a guick'and easy Yconnection Lbetween 'the handle and'iirstsection ofi'aijointed Aii'shing rod.

Itis well known'that viishing'rods, particularly of the 'type used to Aperform Vsome types of casting operation, "are subjected to severe Ibending moments at the point .where the krod joins with the handle. .lt is also well "known that any type of coupling provided 'forjthispurpose must be easy tooperate and capable of effecting hoth asecure connection and a speedy disconnection of the rod andthe handle. Furthermore ,fbecause of the corrosive conditions which .are .often encountered inthe use of fishing rods,it `is .also `desirable .to Lprovidea V.cou- 1pling-.mechanism.betweenlltherod y-and handle which will `not beadvers'ely Aaffected'rif itis permitted to -remain in 4thecoupledconditionfor long v.periods of time after use .or between uses. t-As. evidenced bythe substantialmum- .bera'nd variety of couplers which are already knownrto eiiist for this'purpose, many attempts have ybeen made A-over a long period of time to develop a: completely satis- .factory couplingvldevice but inpursuance of acontinuous feiortto improve the .product .the present invention has .heenbrought forth.

Accordingly, Aa primary objectof this inventionis the provision .of a device -for coupling Vthefadjacent -Iends ,of .afpair of rods in substantially coaxial relationship, .said device `being `capable of `withstanding f at f least as great a .bending moment-as theportions of the rod :structure :adjacent to said device, and'whichis capable. of effecting `quick and easy connection tor `disconnection vof the-.parts coupled thereby.

Afurther object of this invention isrtheprovision of `a lcouplingdevice, as aforesaid, whichis .particularly adapted for-.use with the adjacentends ofa fishing rodrand the removable handle thereof.

Affurther object of this yinventionis the provision of ia: coupling device, as aforesaid, which can he easily and -quicklyoperated manually vand `which provides not onlgr fr:.a; snug engagement of the'coupled parts butalso serves to break loose the .coupledfpartstin'the event that they become corroded ,or `otherwise diflcult 'to disconnect as fa-resultzof normalusage. i

A vfurtherobjectof this invention is kthe provision of a Ycoupling device, vas^'aforesaid,'}which is` relatively inexpensive to fabricate and simple to assemble, which-is -extremely -easyltofoperate and` which'can be adapted/to 'existing -types of fishing rod structures. i v

Afurther object of this invention is 'the provision of la t'coupling device, as aforesaid, which vis completely fooljziroo'f'in operation, `which requireslittlefor no. maintenance, 'andwhich has 'a'pleasing appearance in combinationwiththe remainder 'of the fishing rod..

Other-objects-and jpurposes ofthis "invention willv becorneapparent to persons vacquainted with'this type of States Patenti@ "i f 2,937,041 .-:Batentied 4fM-ay 7, 19,60

equipment upon reading 'the :following specification .and V:examining'the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure lisa broken side-elevational view `of :afportion of a casting rod including thes.handle,.thel adjacentportion 'fof therrod v.andfth'ey couplingdevicesof :the invention.

Eigure2lis"a;.sectional#viewtaken :along .the line II--.II iofFigure 1.

VVFigureV ;-3 Iis v`a sectional *view taken :along Athe .line `lIIIIIof Figure -2.

Figure `41isla sectional view takentalong the linezIV-fIV ofFigure 2.

Figure 5 is anf'exploded,lpa1tially ,brokenzand partially lsectioned view 'offthercouplingldeviceand associatedv parts lst'tbstantiallyas appearing in FigureZ.

For the lpurpose of convenience in'fdescription, v.the terms "finner, youterand f derivatives thereof will 'have reference to `the geometrie'center-of the rod coupling "device embodying the invention, fand parts associated ftherewith. The t'erms left "right and derivatives thereof'willhave 'reference' to the corresponding sides of the structures vappearing in :Figures 1,v'2 'and' 5;

l General description iln order to imeet 'the` objects of-the invention, including :those set forth above-therehasibeenprovided a -device fforr coupling the Aadjacent -endfportions fof -a 'pair of rod- 4like `rn'ernbers in substantially coaxial'relationship. "In 4-lthis particular embodimenL-sai'd rodmembers comprise lthe handleand Vfthe adjacent `rod section of a jointed l1isliing rod assembly. The `coupling 'device includes c0- end of vsaid one rod forthreadedreception"of-the other rod. An internal groovein the's'leeve isin register `with an-externa1 groove inthe onerOd. A splitring occupies IAboth of said grooves and isrigidly ailixed to 'eithefthe sieeveor the rodypreferab'ly "andnormally thesleeve. v

`lThe`fshing rod .assembly I0 (Figure 1.-),herei'n.utilized to "disclose the invention, comprises aIha'ndle unit 11, arodunit '12 and the coupling device 13. Thefhandle unit 11 includes a, grip portion "14 at one end, ya rod .portion 16 at the other .end and'a reel seat .1'7`between s aid grip portion and said Arod portion. It willfbeapparent that the grip portion .14 .and the reeliseat 17 .may be reversed in their locations, if desired,and .may Abe conventional .in form. .Aclainping mechanism, including the screw 18,7m'ay be vprovidedior removably Esecuring the `reel 19 upon the ,reel seat17in,asubstantiallyronventional manner. Y

ln general, the rod unit llmaybe of .anyconvenient -type which is `either' jointedorsina single piece,which is either solid or hollow and which-is fabricated .fromfany .conventional material such as .metal tubing, resin impregnated glass fibers, or the like., The lower -orbutt` end which is vpreferably substantially .cylindricaLihas anreX- ternal, left hand' screw thread Y.26 `,adjacent V.toi-theend ,piloter reduced portion 24. -l-A pin.27 .issecuredtorand kextends radially from, Athe reducedfportionf24 .aboutEmitir;Y .wayibetween the kends thereof.A s

"The ro'd portionflo'ffthe handle V.unitflil (igures and 5), has in its free end a recess 28 into which the reduced portion 24 of the rod unit 12 is slidably andr 24 is thus received into the recess 28.

The wall ofthe recess 28 has an elongated groove f and groove 29 are arranged so that they positively pref vent relative rotation between the rod unit 12 and rod portion 16 about their common axis, while at the same time permitting an abutting engagement between the free end 30 of the rod portion 16 and the shoulder 31 provided by the junction between the reduced portion 24 and the remainder of the rod unit 12. It will be recognized that the non-rotating feature may be provided in other known ways, such as by means of an out-of-round reduced portion 24 and a correspondingly shaped recess 28 in a substantially well known manner. Furthermore, the reduced port-ion 24 and recess 28, though here coaxial with the rod portions with which they are associated, may be eccentric with respect to said rod portions without materially changing their purpose or function.

The rod portion 16 of the handle unit 11 (Figures 2, 3 and 5) has an annular external groove 32 which is spaced from the free end of the rod portion 16 preferably a distance slightly greater than the length of the reduced portion 24. A split collar 33, which is comprised of a pair of semi-circular elements 34 and 35 (Figure 3), is snugly, but slidably and rotatably, disposable within the annular groove 32 s o that its outside diameter is not materially greater than the adjacent outside diameter of the rod portion 16.

A sleeve 39 isprovided with an internal coaxial bore 38 therethrough and said bore has adjacent its righthand end (Figure 2) an internal annular groove 37 therein of the same axial length as that of the groove 32. Said sleeve 39 also has internal threading adjacent its leftward end for engagement with the threading 26 on the butt end portion 23. The rod portion 16 (Figure 5) is cylindrical in this embodiment and rotatably receivable into the bore 38 of said sleeve 39.

The ring elements 34 and 3S (Figures 3 and 5) have threaded, radially disposed openings 41 and 41a preferably about midway between the circumferential ends thereof. Thus, the threaded opening in one of the elements is diametrically disposed with respect to the threaded open-ing in the other of said elements when said elements are disposed within the annular groove 32, as shown in Figure 3. The sleeve 39 has a pair of diametrically disposed, preferably coaxial, screw openings 42 and 42a through which screws 43 and 43a are respectively and slidably received for threaded engagement with the threaded openings 41 and 41a in the semi-circular elements 34 and 35, respectively.

When the screws 43and 43a are tight, `the elements 34 and 35 are drawn radially outwardly into the internal annular groove 37. However, the depth of said groove 37 is materially less than the radial dimension of said elements 34 and 35 and hence, even when drawn by said screws tightly against the radially outer wall of the internal groove 37, said elements 34 and 35 will continue to extend into the groove 32. Thus, said elements 34 and 35 will prevent relative axial movement between the sleeve 39 and the rod 16 but will permit relative rotational movement therebetween.

In assembly, a mark 46 on the rod 16 will indicate the point which the rightward end of the sleeve 39 should occupy inorder to place the grooves 32 and 37 into radial alignment with respect to each other.

It will beV observed in Figure 2 that the sleeve 39 telescopesV substantial portions of both the rod unit 12 and the rod portion 16 when the coupling device 13 is fully engaged. Thus, bending moments at the joint between the rod unit 12 and the handle unit 11 are resisted not only by the telescoping engagement between the rod unit 12 and the rod portionv16 but also by the overlapping embracing of the sleeve 39 lwit-h both the rod unit 12 and the rod portion 16.

1 Operation Mounting of the sleeve 39 upon the rod portion 16 of the handle unit 11 is accomplished by placing the semicircular elements 34 and 35 into theYannular-groove 32 so that they form a collar 33 having an outside diameter about the same as Vthe outside diameter of the rod portion 16 adjacent to the groove 32. A viscous lubricant, such as petroleum jelly, may be placed in the groove 32 before the insertion of the elements 34 and 35. The lubricant not only serves its usual purpose, but also tends to hold the elements 34 and 35 in said groove 32 during the subsequent assembly.

The rod portion 16, including said semi-circular elements 34 and 35, is then inserted into the rightward end of the sleeve 39 containing the annular recess 37, until the rightward end of the sleeve 39 is radially aligned with the mark 46 on the outer surface of said rod portion 17. The annular groove 32 is now radially aligned with the annular recess 37. The sleeve 39 is rotated with respect to the rod portion 16 and the split collar elements 34 and 35 thereon, until the screw opening v42, for example, becomes aligned with one of the threaded openings 41 and 41a in the semi-circular elements. Accordingly, the screw opening 42a will automatically be substantially aligned with the other of said threaded openings 41 and 41a. The screws are then inserted in the respective openings 42 and 42a, and then are threadedly engaged with and screwed into the respectively aligned openings 41 and 41a in the elements 34 and 35 until such elements are drawn'snugly into the recess 37 to effect the connection above described.V

Connection of the rod unit 12 with the handle unit 1,1 is commenced by inserting the reduced portion 24 of said rod unit 12 into the leftward end of the sleeve 39 and thence into the open end of the recess 28 until the pin 27 engages the leftward end of the rod portion 16. The rod unit 12 is then rotated with respect to the rod por tion 16 until the pin 27 is received into the ygroove 2 9, after which said rod unit and rod portion are moved toward each other until the screw thread 44 engages the screw thread 26. The sleeve 39 is now rotated so that the screw threads 34 and 26 cause the reduced portion 24, hence the rod unit 12, to move axially toward the rod portion 16 until the shoulder 31 engages the leftward end of the rod portion 16. The rod. assembly 10, insofar as the coupling device 13 is concerned, is now ready for use.

When it becomes desirable to disconnect the rod unit 12 from the handle unit 11,'the sleeve 39 is simply rotated in the direction opposite to that which it was rotated for effecting the connection and the rod .unit 12 is thereby moved away from the handle unit 11.

The screwthreads` 26 and 40 on the rod unit 12 and sleeve 39, respectively, serve not only to hold the handle unit 11 snugly in engagement with the rod unit 12 but also prov-ide a very large mechanical advantage in drawing the reduced portion 24 out from the recess or opening 28.` Thus, seizures, such as those produced by oorrosion, which may occur between the reduced portion 27 vand the walls of the recess y28 during long periods of use or non-use without being separated, are easily and quickly overcome simply by rotating .the sleeve 39 in the direction necessary to-eiect axial movement of the rod unit and handle unit away from each other. A

Although a particular preferred embodiment of the invention has been disclosed in detail for illustrative pur.-

poses, it will be understood that variations 'or modiiications of such disclosure, which lie within the scope of .the appended claims, are `fully contemplated.

What is claimed is:

1. A device for coupling substantiallycoaxially the adjacent end portions of first and second rods, comprising: means on said end portions for effecting slidable overlapping and non-rotatable engagement therebetween; an

j 5 and -on said end portion for preventing relative rotation ibut permitting relative axial movement therebetween; a

sleevev into which the adjacent ends of said rods are received, said sleeve having an internal annular recess external thread on the iirst rod near the end portion ,v

thereof; an annular, groove inthe second rod near the end portion thereof; a sleeve into which said end portions of said rods are slidably receivable, said sleeveY having an internal thread near one end thereof engage-YV able with the thread on said `first rod, and said sleeve having an internal annular recess radially alignable with, and of axial width equal to, the annular groove in said second rod; a plurality of partially circular elements receivable into the annular groove and the annular recess against whichv said one end of said rst rod abuts when Y through said enlarged portion and said externally threaded l and substantially radially movable therewithin, said elef ments being of axial width such thatthey effect a snug t with the end walls'of both said groove and said recess and said elements 'having an outside diameter approximately equal to'the external diameter of said second rod adjacent to the annular groove therein; and screw means extending through said sleeve for drawing lsaid elements l radially outwardly and holding said elements simultaneously within both said groove and said recess and for moving said elements radially inwardly so that same are completely received in said groove whereby said sleeve may be releasably secured to said second rod.

2. A device for coupling substantially coaxially the adjacent ends of a pair of rods, comprising: a rst rod having an end portion and an intermediate portion offset from said end portion, said end portion having a coaxial,

cylindrical recess in one end thereof and having an annular, peripheral groove adjacent said one end; a second rod having an end portion of reduced diameter slidably received within said recess and having an externally threaded portionfof enlarged diameter adjacent said end,V

portion; cooperating key and keyway means in said recess said annular groove and said recess are radially aligned, said end portion of said second rod being freely receivable portion being threadedly engaged with the threads of said enlarged portion; va pair of substantially semi-circular,

annular elements snugly received-in said annular groove :I

and said annularrecess, said elements when vin abutting relationship having an outside diameter substantially equal to the external diameter of said first rod adjacent said annular groove and vhaving a radial thickness such that when said elements are'received within said annular recess, the radially inner portion thereof is receivedfwithin said annular groove; and a plurality of Yscrews extendling radially through said sleeve and threaded into said.

elementsfor moving said elements radially inwardly and outwardly between a position where they are fully received within said annular groove and a position where they are partially received within both said annular groove an said annular recess. y t f lleferencesl Cited in the rile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 365,178v Gracey June 21, 1887 t 593,562 Brennan Nov. 16, 1897 1,376,780 Reid May 3, l921- 1,442,223 Knebusch. Jan. 16, 1923 1,588,128 Montgomery June 8,' 1926 Brown Aug. 26, 1930 

